Hello everyone,

Hope this is the right place for this question.

Back in 2021 I tested positive with high-risk HPV and abnormal cells after my smear. I had the cells removed with a Letz procedure and my 6 month smear to clear was HPV negative. I've since had another smear test that was also HPV negative so I'm as confident as you can be that I've cleared the HPV (the Dr did say that many of us will clear the HPV once we've had the Letz procedure, that it sort of kicks our body into action).

For some reason lately it's been on my mind about the risk I was exposed to when I had HPV and I can't seem to find anything online that can answer this question so I'm hoping someone here may be able to help-

- We know that persistent high-risk HPV can cause certain cancers, but what about if you have cleared the high-risk HPV and are now HPV negative? Are you still at risk? Or now that you've cleared it does your risk reduce greatly? I suppose what I'm wondering is does having high-risk HPV for any period of time, even if it was potentially brief, put you at a high risk for certain cancers? Or is it really only if it sticks around for years and years and you can't clear it? Is that risk still festering away in my body? Or can I relax that my risk is now low thanks to (i think) no longer having the HPV infection?

Sending love to anyone out there stressing over anything, no matter how big or small. And thank you in advance to anyone who may be able to advise.